The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-07-09
"W hat is the trouble Martha! l must
know more about it.n said Jane


know more about it." said Jane.
"Well, We see old Massa Josh done brung
man around to dinner dis mornin', and !
knows he's trader. l done ben sold befo',
an o, Mis- Jane, can't go 'thout tellin'
the chillun goodbye"
Nonsense, Martha. Mr. Kirby would
never sell you and the babv.''
80, you don't know, Mis- Jane. Dis yere
man axed me was Iffty year. old, and said
more'n that; and Massa Josh stepped up
an said l was lynn want more'n forty
that's de way dey allus does; o, Miss Jane,
| done ben sold befo';' and the poor crea-
ture rocked and swayed with emotion, and
once more besought my sister: please
honey write jes' word"
''You must promise to show the letter to
your master. You know, Martha, this
might make great troG BILE for u.s. said lane,
yielding to her Importantly.
''Sartin, sartin, honey. He may jis' read
every word" and seeing the letter begun,
she added, ''bress her white angel heart.'
The letter was written according to old
Martha'S dictation, to 1.-The chillun'' back
in ole Virginny, and given to Martha to
hand her master for the post. 1t was our
last glimpse of old Martha.
The next morning the neighborhood was
in blaze of excitement. Andy, the Kirbys'
coachman, and old Martha had decamped
How or when they had escaped none knew,
but 1t was fair to suppose that they were
already safely sheltered on the Kansas
shore. The aggravation seemed greater
from the fact that the Kirby servants were
exceptionally well treated and regarded
with family affection. A currant bush that
stood by the wicket between our house and
theirs was found to have some thing white
futtering among the leaves. II was the
letter which my sister had written the night
before, and which old Martha, in her haste
and excitement had dropped before she
reached her masters house. Then the full
storm of wrath was turned upon us. Enter
ing my fathers office, Richard Kirby de-
nounced our whole family for conspiring to
assist runaway negroes. Enraged at my
sisters refusal of his hand and feeling that
it was through my fathers influence, he was
eager to provoke quarrel. Drawing his
bowie knife, a weapon with which all Mis-
sourians We're then armed, fearful tragedy
would have been enacted but for the inter-
ference of the bystanders. Thwarted in
this, he strobe through the crowd that had
gathered muttering vengeance. The fol-
lowing day he was enrolled upon the list
that sent so many martyrs to the lost cause.
A company of men were already drilling
in an open lot on the outskirts of the town,
without, as yet, any regularly appointed
officers. When it was known that Richard
Kirby had enlisted, shout went up ''Our
Captain, our Captain!' He was received
with demonstrations of joy, and when he
counseled an immediate departure to join
the forces Of Price, they gave the widest
cheers.
1t was decided that upon the arrival of
the next boat this newly organized COM
pany Of raw recruits would embark, with
Richard Kirby as first officer. He knew
the sullen indignation with which this
move would be regarded by every Union
man, and he gloried in it, but had he
known with what a throe of anguish this
news was received by my sister Jane, his
impetuous nature would have forgiven all
the past, and he again would have been the
suppliant lover.
My sister went about the house with eyes
strained towards the distant hills for the
first white wreath of smoke which should
herald the approach of the coming steamer
There was always an uncertainty of some
hours regarding the arrival of these West
ern vehicles OF travel, and l knew by the
white, tense closing of her lips, that the sus-
pense was more dreadful than the first
shock had been. Finally, upon the clear
MONDAY air the shrill whistle sounded.
The little village was alive in an instant.
The levee was crowded with men, women
and children, while the negroes stole sur
reptitious glances around the corners of
fences and corn-cribs The boat rounded to
the shore as the company went marching
down the single street, with its red and
white silken banner the work of fair rebel
hands, floating in the sunshine. Men of
pronounced Union sentiments were con
spicuous by their absence, and strange
quiet was over all. We stood upon bluff
which commanded view of the whole
scene, although knowing that our figures